LETTER: No response over key concerns

It facilitates the airing and identifying key issues of interest and concern for local residents and through its letters columns, a mechanism to provide feedback and views, particularly to the policy makers and our elected representatives.

Given the lack of real scrutiny of policy because of the Cabinet System used by Horsham District Council, challenges in the letters columns are even more important.

The problem is that our elected representatives and those who are proposing new developments seem to see communication as a one way process and not acknowledging the need to address concerns or answer questions; particularly those raised in the letters columns.

They use columns, articles and features in the WSCT to promote their view, yet seldom respond to legitimate concerns raised.

The worst offenders are our new MP Mr Quin, who makes extensive use of his regular column and features to promote his accomplishments and Mr Blevins of Liberty Properties who promotes his dubious North Horsham development scheme through WSCT articles and advertising; yet both fail to respond to questions directed to them via the letters pages.

I wrote a letter recently to WSCT in response to an article about Mr Quin and the low per capita level of education funding in West Sussex which an enlightened MP would have responded to immediately.

Similarly, along with others, I have challenged Mr Blevins of Liberty to answer serious concerns about the proposed development north of Horsham; there has been no reply in the letters pages to either.

So in the interests of promoting real two way communication I look forward to reading letters from both in forthcoming editions of your paper.

L.N. PRICE

Smithbarn, Horsham

__

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.